“In 1758, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Jean Le Rond d'Alembert began an argument that would produce one of the most important philosophical discussions on the political importance of the arts... [continued in Reviews below]”—Translation Review

In 1758, Jean Le Rond d’Alembert proposed the public establishment of a theater in Geneva—and Jean-Jacques Rousseau vigorously objected. Their exchange, collected in volume ten of this acclaimed series, offers a classic debate over the political importance of the arts. As these two leading figures of the Enlightenment argue about censorship, popular versus high culture, and the proper role of women in society, their dispute signals a declaration of war that divided the Enlightenment into contending factions. These two thinkers confront the contentious issues surrounding public support for the arts through d’Alembert’s original proposal, Rousseau’s attack, and the first English translation of d’Alembert’s response as well as correspondence relating to the exchange.

The volume also contains Rousseau’s own writings for the theater, including plays and libretti for operas, most of which have never been translated into English. Among them, Le Devin du village was the most popular French opera of the eighteenth century while his late work Pygmalion is a profound meditation on the relation between an artist and his creation. This volume offers English readers a unique opportunity to appreciate Rousseau’s writings for the theater as well as his attack on the theater as a public institution.

“In 1758, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Jean Le Rond d'Alembert began an argument that would produce one of the most important philosophical discussions on the political importance of the arts . . . and sparked a series of letters between the two leading figures of the Enlightenment, one whose debate over the position of women and censorship versus high culture would polarize contemporary philosophers and social theorists. These letters are printed for the first time in this edition.”—Translation Review

“Rousseau’s work belongs on the very short list of the most important reflections on the nature, function, and value of literature ever produced by a philosopher. Certainly every respectable library and every philosopher with an interest in Rousseau will want to possess this volume.”—The Review of Metaphysics